Automatic valve for coal-washers.



PATENTED FEB. 2l, 1905.

W. M. DUNCAN. AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR GOAL WASHERS.

AIILIUATION FILED FEB. l, 1904.

O O O G G 0 0 G O O O O O O O Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT EETCE.

.-VVILLIAM M. DUNCAN, OFALTON, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR COAL-WASHERS.

SCIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,249, dated February 21, 1905.

' Application 'iiled February 1, 1904. SeraLNQ. 191,629.

To fir/ZZ whom it ntcty concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM M. DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Alton, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Valves for Coal- VVashers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to a valve through the medium of which the outlets of the jigs of coalwashers, through which slate or other impurities escape, may be automatically controlled to provide for the valve being open during the coal-washing operation and immediately closed when the delivery of coal into the jig ceases. l

My invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

Figure I is a top or plan view of a coalwasher provided with my automatic valve. Fig. II is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line H II, Fig. I.

1 designates the Washing-tank of a coalwasher, and 2 a chute leading to said tank to conduct coal into the jig that operates therein.

3 designates a frame surmounting the washing-tank 1 and on which are journaled a pair of rotatable shafts 4, that are provided with eccentrics 5. One of the shafts 4 is driven through the medium of a drive chain or belt 6, leading to a wheel or pulley on the shaft, and power is transmitted from said ii rst-named shaft through the medium of a wheel 7, mounted thereon, and an endless chain'or belt 8 and a wheel 9 on the second shaft 4.

10 designates eccentric-straps fitted to and inclosing the eccentrics 5, so that said straps may have a rise-and-fall motion when the eccentrics are rotated with the shafts 4, to which they are lixed.

11 designates hangers depending from the eccentric-straps 10, and connected to these hangers are straps 1.2, in which are seated transverse rods 13.

14 designates a jig that is adapted for vertical movement in the washing-tank 1 and which is supported by the transverse rods 13,

thatv have bearing' in straps 15, fitted to the side walls of the jig' 14. The jig 14has a perforated bottom 16, thatis inclined downwardly from its end atwhich the coal-delivery chute 2 is located to the discharge end of the jig. At the discharge end of the jig is an outlet 17.

The parts thus far described relate to the construction of a coal-washer proper, and no invention per se is herein claimed for them.

It will be understood that upon the rotation of the eccentric 5, due to the actuation of the shafts 4, by which they are carried, continuous vertical reciprocation may be imparted to the jig' 14, due to its connection to thc eccentrics through the medium of the eccentricstrap hangers and transverse rods, to which said hangers are connected. During such reciprocation the water in the tank 1 of a coalwasher is constantly slushed into the' jig 14 through its perforated bottom to wash the coal entering thereinto as the jig moves downwardly and escapes from the jig as it moves upwardly.

18 designates a swinging gate that is located at the outlet 17 of the jig 14 and extends transversely of the jig, being hinged to a supportingbar 19, located above said outlet. This gate is arranged to swing outwardly, as illustrated by dotted lines, Fig. II. Projecting from the inner side of the gate 18 is an arm 20.

21 is a connecting-rod pivoted to the gatecarried arm 2() and projecting upwardly therefrom to the top of the jig 14.

22 is a rock-shaft mounted in straps 23, seated on the side walls of the jig and eX- tending transversely across the top of the jig.

24 designates a rocker fixed to the rock- `shaft 22 and having' a crank-arm 25, that is pivoted to the connecting-rod 21. This rocker also has"a perforated vertical arm 26.

27 is an arm extending rearwardly from the rocker 24 and bearing an adjustable weight 28.

29 designates a connecting-rod, the rear end of which is perforated and connected to the vertical arm 26 of the rocker 24.

30 is a swinging plate or member that is pivotally supported in uprights 31, projecting vertically from the washing-tank 1, in proximity to the coal-delivery chute 2. This IOO swinging plate is pivoted to said uprights by means of a rock-shaft 32, and its upper end .is connected at 33 to the rod 29. The lower end of the'swinging plate is free, so that Inovement may be imparted thereto when coal strikes thereagainst on its delivery into the jig 14 from the chute 2.

In practical use my valve operates as follows: As the coal is discharged from the delivery-chute 2 to the jig 14 it strikes the lower free end of the swinging member 30 and by impact thereagainst throws said member rearwardly into lthe position seen in dotted lines, Fig. II, This impact 0i' the coal against the swinging member 30 occurs only when the jig 14 is inthe lowest portion oi' its reciprocation, at which time the swinging member is so located as to be in the path oi' delivery ot' the coal discharged from the delivery-chute. During this-period the coal by acting against the swinging member and moving it rearwardly causes said member to draw the rod 29 forwardly and rock the rocker 24, thereby causing' the crank-arm 25 to be thrown downwardly. On downward movement of the crank-arm the connecting-rod 21 is actuated to impart movement to the arm 20, projecting from the gate 18, so thatl said gate would be moved rearwardly to open the outlet 17 of the jig. As .a consequence the impurities contained by the coal previous to its being washed and which are heavier than the coal are permited to ind egress through the outlet 17, while the coal, being lighter, rises in the jig and escapes therefrom at its discharge end. On the upward reciprocation of the jig the swinging member 30 rises to a point where its free end will not be struck by the coal discharged into the jig from the delivery-chute, and therefore the impact of coal against said member is intermittently discontinued. As a consequence the Weighted arm 27 is permitte'd to fall and actuate the lrocker 24 and by so doing move the parts connecting the gate 18 to said rocker and return the gate to closed position, so that the outlet 17 will be closed to prevent the discharge of coal therethrough during the. upward reciprocation of the jig. In closing the gate 18 the weighted arm 27 by actuating the rocker 24 serves also to move the rod 29 rearwardly, and thereby swing the free end oi' the swinging member 30 toward the receiving end of the jig, where it will be ready to receive the impact of the coal delivered thereagainst on the next descent of the jig.

I claim as my invention- The combination with a vertically-reciprocating coal-washer jig having an impuritiesoutlet, of a valve reciprocating with the jig and controlling said outlet, a stationary coaldelivery chute, and a swinging member reciprocating with the jig and connected with the valve, said swinging member having its path of reciprocation intersecting the path of delivery of the coal passing through said chute, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM M. DUNCAN.

`In presence of- ,Grno D. DUNCAN, J. N. CRAWFORD. 

